Perth street artist Stormie Mills unveils first-ever solo exhibition at AGWA
Acclaimed Western Australian artist Stormie Mills is set to unveil his first-ever solo exhibition, All the secrets are buried between the oceans and the mountains, at The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) from Saturday, August 1, to Sunday, November 8.
A defining figure in Australian street art, Mills has spent four decades shaping the visual language of contemporary urban culture. This landmark exhibition presents a selection of works from across his career alongside a new body of work reflecting his global movements, personal history, and the encounters that have informed his distinctive practice since he first began painting in 1984.
“Stormie Mills has played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of Australian street art,” said AGWA director Colin Walker. “This exhibition recognises not only his artistic contribution but the emotional depth and humanity embedded in his work.”
The exhibition features two monumental 12-metre-long paintings, one referencing the oceans and the other the mountains. These vast landscapes place Mills’ subjects in dialogue with elemental environments, highlighting the tension between vulnerability and endurance. Mills’ latest body of work also includes a series of portraits depicting friends, collaborators and influential figures from the international street art community.
Stormie Mills’ career gained early recognition in Western Australia in 1994, when he became one of the first street artists invited to participate in an initiative responding directly to the state government’s anti-graffiti messaging. At a time when street art was rarely acknowledged as a credible art form, Mills created a public mural at the Wellington Street freeway underpass—a work that remains in place today.
“Art gave me something to hold onto. I want people, especially those doing it tough, to know that no matter where you are in life, there is always hope,” said Mills.
Mills’ work has appeared in galleries, public spaces and private collections across Australia, the UK, USA, Europe and Asia. He has exhibited in major cultural centres, including London, Los Angeles, Berlin and New York, while sell-out solo exhibitions in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne have cemented his standing in the contemporary art world. He has recently been invited as a guest of honour at the 2027 Florence Biennale.
All the secrets are buried between the oceans and the mountains opens to the public at The Art Gallery of Western Australia on Saturday, August 1 and will run until Sunday, November 8, 2026. For more information, visit artgallery.wa.gov.au